Locking device for adjustable heels.



No.. 887,020. PATENTBD MAY 5, 1908.

C. S. SHUTE.

LOCKING DEVICE POR ADJUSTABLE HEELS. APPLIGATION FILED 11:12.17, 190e.

,ing t e perforated plate on CHARLES S. SHUTE, OF BOSTON,- MASSACHUSETTS.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR ADJUSTABLE HEELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5, 1908.

Application led February 17, 1908. Serial No. 416,237.

T 0 all 'whom it may concern: y

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. SHUTE, of Boston, lin the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and'useful Improvements in Locking Devices for Adjustable Heels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to 'shoe heels and heel lifts and more particularly to a locking device for adjustable heels of rubber, leather or other material, the construction being such that a new heel or lift may be readily shbstituted for an. old or worn out one when desiredi` Briefly stated this improvement is embodied in a boot or shoe having its heel base provided with fixed, downwardly projecting eyes or staples and its heel roper or outer heel lift being recessed and urnished in its upper face with a metallic or other suitable p ate vulcanized in place or otherwise secured 1n position, and slotted or perforated to admit such eyesA or staples, insertible keys being introduced to hold the parts engaged.

'The preferred construction is illustrated in the accom anying drawing and is herein-` after more fillly described with reference thereto.

A feature which may characterizethis improved construction,is the formation of the metallic plate in two parts separately insertible in the recess of the heel.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is alongitudinal vertical section through the heel portion of a shoe taken on line1--1,`Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a top lan of the heel proper detached, showline 2-2 of Fig. 1, the keys being removed. Fig. 3 represents, in top view, detached, lthe two members of the locking late. Fig. 4 is a vertical crosssection on lme 4-4, Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 a like turethat is, not

view substitutingV staples for the loops or eyes nailed on in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows one of the key bars removed.

The heel portion of the shoe is provided with the flatbottomed heel base 9, made somewhat concave on its up er face to fit upon the rear end of the so e and shaped marginally to conform to the outer'walls of theheel. The heel base is a permanent fiX- detachable from the shoe. Depending eyes or staples 10 'are nailed to or driven into the bottom of heel base 9 as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. These eyes are' shown in Fig. 4 as shallow loops formed in narrow strips of sheet-metal, nailed in position, the

nails being clenched as are the tips of the staple rongs in Fig. 5.

The heel proper 11, is preferably formed of vulcanized rubber, molded to perfect shape, with a shallow recess 12 in its upper face to receive the two-part locking plate 13, 14, the recess being undercut marglnally or rooved to admit the marginal fiange 15, formed on the part 13, Figs. 1, 2, 3, fitting obliquely beneath the curved rear and side walls of the heel. Part 13, of the locking plate can therefore be pushed rearwardly into place in the recess and part 14 next inserted in front of it, with its three tongues 16 slightly depressed to extend beneath the front edge of art 12S-see Fig. 3. This insertion is readi y effected, in rubber heels, by bending the front and rear ends of the heel downwardly (or the middle upwardly on a convex curve) while inserting the parts. Part 14 has vertical supports or flanges, 17, at its sides-see Figs. 4 and 5-and a depending oblique flange 18 at its front edge which engages the oblique rubber wall of the recess near the breast of the heel.

The locking plate, whether in a single eme bedded piece or in two separable parts as described, will be perforated as at 19 to receive the eyes Orstiples 10, accurately located for a perfect fit. Beneath said plate, and through such eyes or staples, keys 20 are inserted, grooved keyways or recesses being formed in molding the rubber or otherwise produced. In Figs. 1 and 6 the key 20 is shown with a depending lip at one end, for withdrawing it when required, and also with a catch 21, on its under side to engage the.

ed'ge o f therubber or of the vperforation in the'oblique flange 18 of part 14, through which the key passes.

I claim asmy invention:

1. The improved locking device for adjust- -able heels, comprising the heel-basel with downwardlv projecting eyes affixed thereto, the heel proper formed with a shallow, plate holding recess in its upper face under-cut marginally to form a flange seat, in combination with a metallic or-likeplate located in such recess, 'slotted or perforated-to receive said eyes and flanged marginally to engage said seat, and with horizontal key bars engaging such eyes beneath the plate, 1substantia l ly as set forth. V

-2. In adjustable heels, .a locking device comprising a two-part horizontal perforated plate located in a shallow recess in the upper such loo and each formed with a catch en- 1G gaging t e edge of aperforation, substantially as set forth.

' In testimony whereof'l have affixed my Signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES S. SHUTE. Witnesses:

A. H. SPENCER, RICHARD P. ELLIOTT. 

